Email
eastoddard@wpi.edu
Office
Salisbury Laboratories, 310F
Affiliated Department or Office
Environmental & Sustainability Studies
Education
BA History University of Vermont 2001
MS Animals and Public Policy Cummings School of Veterniary Medicine at Tufts University 2008
PhD Geography Clark University 2014

Prof Stoddard is a human-environment geographer who is interested in the intersection of nature, society, and justice, particularly in the context of climate change. She looks at the ways in which we can design for climate resilience, in terms of infrastructure, location specific practices, and through community resilience. Stoddard also looks at the vulnerability and resilience of food systems to disasters (climate, disease outbreaks, etc.), and the impacts for humans, animals, and ecosystems. She looks at the ways in which technology, policies, and social movements can make powerful change to make food systems more resilient and just. 

Stoddard’s interest and research on social justice extends into the classroom, including research on critical and culturally relevant pedagogies, STEM and social justice, and in her own efforts to create inclusive spaces and practices for learning. Stoddard has been the recipient of multiple grants to examine issues of bias and stereotyping on undergraduate student project teams and the impact this has on student learning and experience. Through this work, Stoddard, and colleague Geoff Pfeifer, have developed a set of modules and tools to create more equitable team dynamics for use by both students and faculty. These tools continue to be tested, analyzed, and modified with support from her student research team and collaborators.

Stoddard believes that teaching, advising, working with, and learning from students is the best job a person can have. She works to provide students with transferable tools, skills, and knowledge that can enable them to succeed in their areas of interest, in their workplace, and as change agents in the world.

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

SDG 2: Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

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SDG 4: Quality Education

SDG 4: Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

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SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 5: Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

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SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

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SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Reduce inequality within and among countries

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SDG 13: Climate Action

SDG 13: Climate Action - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

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SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

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News

SEE MORE NEWS ABOUT Elisabeth Stoddard
NBC Boston
Letting Nature Be Your Teacher

Associate Professor Elisabeth Stoddard of the Department of Integrative & Global Studies within The Global School spoke with NBC10 as part of their Climate 2022 coverage about the Farm Stay Project Center in Paxton, Massachusetts. Through the partnership with Turn Back Time, WPI students are helping some of the youngest learners get excited about environmental education through the university’s project-based education.